Wisedome why no badie could talke with him for Care And Retchlesnesse sware Care was too couetous for his Conscience to meddle withall Wo cried out vpon Wealth saying it was the trash that he was wearie of and had brought him to that passe by penitence of too much estimation of it Discontent hee tolde me that CoÌ„tent was but a flincher hee would neuer abide with any man long and he would be my companion during life if I would Now was I in such a maze with muzing what to do that I was and I was not I coulde not tell where nor what I was yet with much a doo I made them all this aunswere Will thou knowest I haue tried thée â—… wanton therefore no more wordes if thou wilt followe mee doo otherwise farewell Rage thou art not ignoraunt of thy vnruly rudenesse therefore runne after mee if thou wilt for else I will gladly rest without thee Follie thou didst so much followe Fancie that thou hadst almost vndone me I am afrayde of thee therefore come behind me if thou wilt for followe thée I will not except thou steppe afore me â—…awares and that vnwillingly Retchlesnesse doost thou remember what thou hast lost me go looke a Companion lie aloofe for I like thée not Wo doost thou not knowe howe often thou hast made me wéepe then go water other meâ—…nes cheekes mine eyes are wet inough alreadie And Discontent thou hast done mée â—…uch despite that I can neuer delight in thée therefore depart for I will neuer bid thée welcome My freendes that frowned on me nowe hearing these answeres to these customers came a little neere me First quoth wit how now shall fréendes be foes Wilt thou no more of my company Yes quoth I if I wist to what purpose Why quoth hee I will bring thée to Reason What to doo quoth I nay quoth wit aske him that Well quoth I Content So when Reason had espied vs hee beganne somewhat merily to looke vppon mee What quoth he hast thou lost will and found VVit now I see we shal be fréendes againe Yea but quoth I what wilt thou doo now for mee Why quoth he I will bring thée to wisdome To what end quoth I hee shal soone shâ—…we thée quoth he such sufficient good as thou shalt be glad off Wisedome with graue conntenaunce thus saluted me Olde fréende hast thou left Wil with Rage and followed wiâ—… with Reason welcome Come let vs goe to Care For what cause quoth I of him thou shalt quicklie knowe quoth he to thy Comfort Nowe being come to Care Oh olde acquaintaunce quoth hee What is wit Rage Folly and Rechlesnes gone togither and art thou come with wit Reason and wisdome twise welcome Come let vs walke to Wealth Wherefore quoth I Thou shalt knowe that anone quoth he when thoâ—… comst to him When wealth sawe me Benedicitie quoth hee is wilfull Rage left with Foolish Rechlesnesse and woe worne out Welcome fréende looke who is heere Who quoth I and with that I spyed Content Who thus saluted mee My good fréende nowe better welcome then euer I like it well that thou wilt rather seeke to recouer thine olde fréendes then to runne after newe Kéepe still with Care and wisdome will so perswade thy wit with Reason that thou shalt finde mee alwaies at an inch with thée Marry as wit is ruled by Reason Reason by wisdome Wisdome kept by Care and Care hath onely Content at commaundement so must thou now thou hast founde vs out vse vs in our kinde which if thou art desirous to learne thou must intreate with wit by Reason to demaunde of wisdome of whome thou shalt knowe more then I can tell thée and so welcome I haue no more to say vnto thee I glad of this their fréendly greeting went first to VVit My good Wit quoth I thou knowest how long I haue longed for Content how long I haue sought him and could neuer finde him and now hauing found him I am to craue thy counsaile how to vse him Alas quoth will I am heartily gladde of thy good minde rome wee will to Reason for without him I am nobody Reason presently perswaded with mee that it was his dutie to demaunde Counsaile of wisedome Nowe when wée came to wisdome hée saide hée woulde talke a little with Care and giue mee aunswere Which attending a while at last thus it was my fréend quoth hée Conâ—…ent is to be vsed as hée is taken if by the eye let the head lodge him a while before hée come to the hearte When hee is in the heade lette Wit waye what he is let Reason runne him ouer and lette mee with Care haue the considering of him If wée like well of him lette him sit néerer thy hearte But if eyther wit or Reason thinke him not worthie the bringing to mee Or I when I haue considered of him thinke him not worthy the kéeping as by the eye you sounde him so by the eye loose him But how soeuer you finde him loue him moderately Least with too much you bee wearie or too little you cannot knowe him If you finde him by Conceite wit will soone knewe what hée is Then Reason hauing talkt with him I shall soone with Care so consider of him as thou shalt not tarrie long for knowledge how to vse him If by Wit and Reason both thou hâ—…st him it will bee but little worke to bring him to me When I and Care haue considered of him thou shalt not doubt how to vse him If by mee thou caâ—…st by him Care will tell thée thou canst neuer make too much oâ—… him And as wee now and then giue him leane to bee abroade in the worlde a while so must thou giue him leaue to be lâ—…king a while thou shalt by our helpe finde him againe well enough Good Syr quoth I your will be donâ—… Then quoth he I will tell thée what there are three Companions that hée doth often keepe companie with all Whose names are these Fancie Loue and Patience Now sometime wée see him among them and let him alone to see what they will doo with him Nowe sometime when they haue had him a while they would lead him awaie to Folly Rechlesnesse and those fellows which when we see then we fetche him home and lette them alone with Discontent Whome when they are wearie off then they leaue him and come to craue his company againe Which for a time we grant them But what dâ—…st thou looke vp at so Oh Syr it is at the two heauenly Ladies how might a man come to knowe them and to doo them seruice I will tell thée one is Vertue and the other Fame Now the way to them is this thou must goe along by Fancie slippe along by Loue skippe away by Frenzie and shake Patience by the 〈◊〉 beholde Content is with Fancie before thée take Wit and Reason with thée I with Care will not be farre from thee and by our helpe shall the Ladies entertaine thée Nowe
but with Arte it dooth better What sayde Cicero Plus ego togatus quam armati decem He did more in his Gowne then ten in their coate Armours Cedaâ—… armatoga concedant laurea linguâ—… Let the Gunne giue place to the Gowne and giue the braue tongue the Bay tree Was not Cicero â—…ratorum prestantissimus an excelent Scholer Cataline was a braue Souldiour but yet Cicero and his side gaue the ouerthrowe Againe howe should the Fame of your gallaunt Souldiours remainâ—… in Memorie had there not béene Schollers willing for the good will they bare them to set them out with such a grace of glorie that all men should be glad to reade and heare them yea and a number to followe them But euerie man must not nor can bée a Souldiour for some must be at home for diuerse causes of importaunce appertinent vnto the Common wealth which in their kinds are as worthie honour as the Souldiour The Souldiour Not so I graunt that it is necessarie for some to sit by the fire side while the other fetch Wood and Cole But they are slouthfull while the other take paines and whether is more worthie honour labour or idlenesse Againe when the Souldioâ—…s of Rome had playde the men in the ouerthrowe of Cataline Was it not a fault in Cicero to shewe such arrogancie in his spéeches to take vppon him more effect then ten men in Armour eyther hee ment it merrâ—…ly by some odde ten persons that neuer came out of the Towne to the battaile because yet hée sayde somewhat vnto the Souldiours to encourage them and they that were away neither sayde nor did anything And so hee meant it to the discommendation of their Cowardise in kéeping farre enough from the fight Or else he meant hée prâ—…ted more himselfe then any ten Souldiours in the Campe. But happie it was for him that the day went of his side though the victorie came not by his eloquence I graunt hee did great good with his perswasions for in déede good wordes will moue much especially in good causes as that was besides God is good and he dooth commonly giue the good victorie and if he suffer them to be ouerthrowen it is for a further good he meanes them Nowe therefore if he had giuen the chiefe glorie to God and the rest to the valiaunt Captaines and Souldiours in my iudgement he had done wel but to come out with Plus ego me thinkes he played the foole Ipse Againe whereas you speake of the great fauour of Schollers that they doo vnto Souldiours in setting foorth their famous deedes I must giue them commendation for their paines but for Honour confesse who deserues more Honour the man that dooth the déede or he that wrytes of it when it is done I graunt Learning an ornament and a necessarie appertinent vnto a Souldiour Otherwise in deede it is harde for him to bée a good Captaine for by Learning he knowes vpon what cause it is good to beginne warre and warre offered vpon what cause it growes and if it bee without cause howe good then is the defence Else if a Souldiour will vpon a fagarie or madde humour in the heade goe showe his great businesse and little wit hee knowes not nor cares not vpon whome where or for what cause I will say his foolishnesse makes him vnworthie of the name of a Souldiour his deedes worthie to bee put in obliuion and himselfe vnwoorthie honour Therefore I confesse a good Captaine had neede to â—…ee somewhat a Scholler ere he take 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hand 〈◊〉 yâ—…t in his Scholership not so worthie honour as when he hath shewed him selfe a Souldiour Marrie this I allowe of the vnlearned the Scholler is to bée honoured and the Souldiour to be beloued But yet I say still the Souldiour is to bée honoured both of the Scho ler and the vnlearned of the Scholer for his Wisedome with valure and of the other for his â—…outnesse with vertue Now what say you for the Scholler The Scholler This I say the grounde I thinke was before the Grasse the tree before the fruite the Plaine song before the Deskant and so foorth The ground I must confesse is worthie loue for bringing foorth Grasse so is Grasse to be loued for the Cattailes sake that it feedes which wee 〈◊〉 by Nowe if the ground brought out nothing but Mosse then were it little to be loued againe the Grasse cut and not well handled would doo little good and were worthie as little loue The Tree were ill would beare no Fruite and the Fruite ill would please no taste the Plaine song were plaine stuffe without Deskant and the Deskant were a madde péece of Musicke without Plaine song to be the ground But as the ground for the Grasse so the Grasse for his â—…wéete iuyce the Trée for the Fruite and the Fruite for the sweete taste the Plaine song for swéete Deskant and the Deskant for skill are loued So is the Scholler for â—…is Learning and the souldiour for â—…ertue to bée honoured a like and if any more then other the scholler for that hee findes by Learning what is Honour howe it is to bee gotten howe maintained and what to be esteemed Hee sees whether his bodie bee to his minde and if it bée then if both bée fit to abide the life of a souldiour then dooth hee proue a Famous fellowe if God send him good fortune If not why then hee takes in hand Law Phiâ—…cke or Diuinitie the most excellent study whereby to win no lesse honour during life then Fame after death By learning comes knowledge by learned knowledge comes a man of meane countenance to giue counsaile vnto Princes By learning is seene what sinne is howe it is hated of God and whâ—…t hurt it doth to man by learning is Uertue founde and howe it is beloued of God and honoured of the best minds and so ought to be of all men by learning comes the knowledge of the nature of many things and the vse of the same by learning can the Phisition cure the souldiour beeing sicks or hurt by learning dooth the man of Peace knowe the law of Armes In summe I know no man excellent in anie thing without learning which is the grounde of all excellencie If then learning be excellent the tune that is spent in that is most excellently well bestowed which time may be well called the Schollers time and the scholler for so well bestowing that time most worthie to bée honoured Now what say you for the Souldiour The Souldiour Marrie this I say the better the grasse the more is the ground esteemed and till the grounde beare grasse what was it to be estéemed but as barrain and therfore a thing of little woorth but when it brings foorth good grasse then it is called a fatte grounde good ground so forth Marrie if this grounde lie in a colde corner it will be long ere the grasse spring and being come vp it commonly proues sower and dooth not so soone nor
hee not soâ—…ie for it Well though he serued our Ladie a little hée loueâ—… God best and God loued him for all his offence and why for that hee left his follie was sorie for his sinne and was ashamed of himselfe hee craued mercie in heart and was therefore receyued into fauour Wherefore good sir condemne not schollers for seruing Ladies which in deed is your meaning for Bersebae beautie bewitched the wittes of King Dauid and made him quite forget his Wisedome Nowe there are sewe King Dauids left for their wisedome but for beautie many Bersabaes If then the worlde be as full of fayre Ladies as euer it was and not men of so rare wisedome Blame not schollers for their seruice nor make souldiours saints for their minds to God-ward But as Dauid was both a good souldiour and no worse scholler and Marcus Aurelius as good a scholler as a souldiour and were therfore more honored then the vnlearned Captains so I pray you grant that the valiâ—…nt scholler in honour is to be preferred before the vnlearned souldiour And that the Scholler is so fit a Companion for the Souldiour as they can not well be one without the other and beeing togither do deserue the greatest honour of all men liuing There is such a loue and vnion betwirt them and the one is so necessarie vnto the other that some men thinke the one and the other is as it were Alter â—…ple so that they do deserue like honour and not one to be higher then the other Now sir what say you Will you thinke so well of the Scholler or not The Souldiour Baléeue mée Scholler since thou cemest so neere mée welcome This I must say to thee I see thou hast a good minde to a Souldiour and therefore since thou art entred into traâ—…ile and I haue beene in some skirmishes let vs both forget we are at home and being héere let vs determine to season our selues for all weathers let our faithfull prayer be our defence against the Diuell and all his temptations my sworde â—…ee our defence agaynst bodily enemies and thy wise counsaile my comfort to arine my selfe with patience Let vs feare neither fire nor water care for no weather faire nor foule sticke not for night nor day take what we finde thankefully part it friendly and spende it merily liue togither louingly and die vertuously so shall we be spoken of on earth amously and liue in Heauen eternallie which that God may graunt willingly let vs fall downe presently and pray heartily that we may rise roundly walke wisely and speede luckely What saiest thou Scholer The Scholler Oh sir right gladly and since you haue so courteously vouchsaied mee your companie I here sweare my selfe your owne at commaundement alwayes and as much as may bee I reioyce to haue found you I hepe to liue with you and neuer to leaue you so dearely I loue you that I will die with you ere I will forsake you and as you doo loue me so put your trust in me and this bee sure of me that you shall commaund mee till liues ende beleeue mee Now that we may togither to the heauenly place thither the onely place whither the Scholler espieth the good Souldiour hieth with humble he artes lâ—…tte vs pray that we may walke the way that at the latter day we may haue cause to say Truth will not lead a stray To which good blessed place God grant vs all his grace that when wee haue runne this race that wee may walke apace that within little space wee may all face to face beholde our blessed Lord whose name with one accord lette vs with laude record And so let the souldiour make much of the Scholler and trust to the Scholler that he loues the Souldiour and let vs bee sure of this when wee doo pray iâ—…is Gods hand doth neuer misse to worke for our auaile THus did the Souldiour put the Scholler out of his Nothing and togither they are gon about something But for that I knowe not what till I see them againe I will héere bid them farewell and with my selfe wishe you well Promising that if I doo méete them you shall hears what became of them Till when and euer God so blesse vs héere that we with ioyfull châ—…re may all at once appeare before his heauenly throne to which his grace alone guide vs right euery one both Men Women and Children I would he were hanged that will not say Amen Marti Mercurius N. B. FINIS The Praise of vertuous Ladies An Inuectiue against the discourteous discourses of certaine Mailcious persons written against Women whome Nature Wit and Wisedome well considered would vs rather honour then disgrace For proofe whereof eade what followes VVritten by the saide Author N. Breton Gentleman Hic haec homo Considera quid mulier To the Courteous and gentle Reader GEntlemen others to whose viewe shall come this woonderfull peece of worke of the praise of womeÌ„ considering how little cause of commendation is found in a number of them I beseeche you before you begin to read resolue with your selues to take in good part what you thinke I haue written against my conscience And though I haue perhaps as great cause to write the contrarie in respect of the little good that I haue founde in some Yet the hope of good that I haue to find by fauour of some one none such hath made me in the behalfe of women generally for her sake say as much as I wish all to approoue and I would as gladly affirme In the meane time I hope I haue offered none iniurie in dooing them a courtesie I craue pardon of none for saying my minde and good thoughâ—…s of them of whome I deserue it Meaning to deserue as wel as I may of all the world and desiring too as little ill to any as may be Thus wishing you to wish Women no better then you see them woorthy I pray you wishe me no woorse then your selues as I wishe all you From my Chamber in the Blacke Fryers this present and alwaies Your friend N. Breton Gentleman The Author to the vertuous Ladies and Gentlewomen LAdies and Gentlewomen or other well disposed what soeuer I haue in your commendations saide as much as I hope you will deserue and more then I thinke hath beene said for you this great while Nowe if yet thinke that I haue said is said for flatterie you should shewe me little fauour For to flatter all I should but haue a floute of a number and to speake well of all I hope will make none mine enemie I craue no fâ—…rther friendship then I deserue nor greater thankes then may requite good will which wisheth well to ye all that are well minded and if you thinke I haue saide trulie in that I haue written thanke your selues for giuing so good occasion if contrarie doo your endeuonr to make good what I haue saide and will bee glad to see and so rest ready to doâ—… you
caring for such men as care for them But if a man bée so vnwise to trouble a Womans wit to care for him howe wise is hee and what a wit hath shoe Confesse you that haue guiltie consciences and learne to bee wise and thinke this sufficient commendation for a Woman if shee bee a Uirgin for chastitie with Uirginitie vertuous of condition courteous and true of loue such a Woman ought to bee and if such they be not pray for them as I d ee and such as are honour them as worthie and for their sakes all other whatsoeuer they bee iudge the best till you see the contrarie and where you knowe it shake your heade and say nothing but it is pittie God hath done his part in her God amend her put the fault in pride and not in her And you shall fee such a chaunge that it was not shee no forsooth as little children say it was the Bulbegger They say nowe the worlde is towardes the last yeare and men towarde theyr last wittes then let Women bee towardes their first Wisedome And if they shew but little Wisedome yet let that haue such commendation that they may bee encouraged to continue and encrease the same For surely well considered a man can not do honour to a more worthie person then a Woman Is it not an abuse in a man to disprayse his friende What greater friend to a man then a Woman who can discommend that he loues except he dissemble sore hypocrisie is as ill as heresie What can a man loue more then a Woman what such loue as betwixt them Marrie some will say they must loue déerely or hate deadly God forbidde that anie man should bée out of charitie I would thinke it a harde matter to hate a woman Yet since it is possible to doo little better I thinke it wisdome to conceale it for there is nothing gotten by reuealing it Well not to séeme tedious let me drawe towards an ende thinke well of as many as you may loue whome you haue cause hate none whatsoeuer you thinke say nothing in their dishonour least you growe in their vtter dislyking and then your roome as good as your company When you seeke for fauonr take a flowte with you I maruaile you can away so long with a Womans companie â—…c But well to anoyde the frumpes flowtes skowles disdainefull spéeches quippes tauntes and angrie couutenaunces that Women will soone bestow where they sée cause doo this if you cannot loue yet doo not loath if you will not honour yet doo not hate if your conscience let you not commend them yet let your courtesie not let you doo the contrarie Remember your Mother forget not your friend offend not your Mistresse and make much of your selfe If you like my counsaile followe it if not disdaine it not if you loue a Woman remember mée if you care for none wee will none of vs trouble you if wee doo it it is agaynst our willes But who is he that loues not a Woman and wherefore then will any looke awrie vpon mée I knowe not and shall I say I care not Well let it goe since it is not I doo all for the best and I trust the best will take it so as for the rest there lyes neither life nor death vpon a looke and therefore hoping the best I will not doubt the contrarie And if men be as well contented with me for this prayse of Women as I am determined to content them with the like of them héereafter if will be not froward and Wit faile me not I trust the Ace of Diamonds will go to the stocke and cuerie man will be pleased In the meane time aboute some better worke then I meane to make boast of I must attend my Haruest ere I fall to Hawking Thus if I said anie thing amisse God forgiue mée if I haue sayde well God bée thanked take it among you if I haue said truly it is not to be blamed if otherwise I haue but spoken mine opinion which I hope to see fully approued And so sorie if I haue sayd that the wise will mistike and glad if I haue written that the good will take well I conclude of a suddaine with this short sentence Hic haec homo Considera quid mulier Like of them as you list loue whom you can when you séeke for fauour God send you good fortune And so fare you well N. G. Gent. FINIS A Dialogue betweene Anger and Patience Anger FIe on the world the flesh and the Diuell Patience What is the matter Anger The world is naught Pati It may amend Anger When it is too late Patience Better late then neuer Anger As good neuer a whit as neuer the better Patience A crust is better then no bread at all Anger A crust is hard of disgestion Patience Not for a hungrie stomacke Anger Oh it will aske vile chewing Patience Take time enough Anger My belly will thinke my throate cut that I â—…eede no faster Patience A little sufficeth Nature Anger When she hath enough Patience Then shee néedes no more Anger Yea but where is that enough Patience In Gods Grace Anger Why I haue the grace of GOD but I want the wealth of the world to grace my selfe withall Patience Alas the brauerie of the world is but beggerie before God And the rich man to heauen goes as a Cammell through a needles eye Anger Yea but begging is a vile life in the meane time Patience Then worke Anger That goes against the Wooll Patience Paines brings profit Anger I haue often lost my labour Patience Take héed thâ—…n howe you worke Anger Had I wist was a foole Patience Then learne to be wise Anger But how Patience Not with hasse Anger How much leysure Patience A little and a little Anger Wordes are good but that they bring no substance Patience A colde winde is good in a hotte Summer Anger Yea but the winde of wordes is but a blast Patience I perceiue one cooling card will nâ—…t sâ—…rue a hot gamâ—…ster Anger Oh what a slaue was I Patience Wherefore Anger Play play Patience Play no more Anger Oh Primero Patience Rest from rests Anger And what shall I do Patience Be quiet Anger I cannot Patience What troubles you Anger All things Men Women and Children Men be 〈◊〉 Women worse and Children costly Patience Condemne not all for a few and take héede whome you trust Men are wise Women wittie and Children must bee cared for Anger Why doost thou crosse me Patience To 〈◊〉 thée to right Anger Why whether was I going Patience From thy selfe Anger Why am I mad Patience No but in a melanchoâ—…y Anger That is but an humour Patience 〈◊〉 yâ—…u whereof it comes Anger No I pray you tell me Patience Of Choller Anger How should I get helpe â—…it Patience It must be purged by Patience Anger That is forst Phisicke Patience Yet will it worke well Anger When shall I take it Patience Euening and morning
agreater seruice From my chamber in the Blacke Fryers N. B. Gent. FINIS The praise of vertuous Ladies and Gentlewomen WHen I peruse and consider of y â— strang discourses of diuers fantesticall fellowes that haue no grace but in disgracing of women in Inuectiues against them in most despitefull description of their dissimulations in such shameful setting out of their sexe Wherby for a fewe mad headed wenches they séeke to bring all yea most modest Matrons and almost all Women in contempt surely mee thinkes I can terme them by no name fitter for theyr folly then madde men that fame would be Authors of somewhat and knowing not what to take in hand runne headlong into such absurdities as redounde to their vâ—…ter dishonor For let a man not quite forget himselfe and but a litt'â—… looke into himselfe hee shall see so great a parte of a Woman in him selfe as that except he wâ—…ll runne from him selfe hee cannet but with as great honour account of them as of himselfe Let me goe to the beginning was not the first Woman made out of man and was shee then any thing else but a péece oâ—… himselfe Nowe when some would 〈◊〉 against her for her dâ—…t did shee it of her selfe no it was by the Serpent And further if a man should consider narrowlie of it was shee any other then himselfe that deceiued himselfe Fâ—… theâ—… more if it were but for the paines they take in bringing vs into the worlde besides the pleasure that wee haue in the worlde wee ought rather to couer any crime or cause that might breede their discredit thâ—…n of our selues vnworthely to seeke thâ—…r defame Some men may thinke that some one Woman hath hired me to flatter all or else by flattering of all I shuld hopâ—… of fauour of some one Some will say perhaps hee hath a Woman to his mother some other a Woman to his Mistresse some other he is sworne to the Candlesticke other it is pittie he was not made a woman and some oh he is a good Womans man Now all these I answere in their kindes as all Women are not of one nature so neither are all Natures of one disposition as one loues to be flattered so other loue to be flatlie dealt withall Therefore if I shoulde seeke to flatter all I should but floute my selfe and commonly the hyre of flatterie is but hate which is so colde a comfort to any mans Conscience as he were well woorthie of a frumpe for his folly that would bée hyred to such a seruice Further they are fooles that loue to bee flattered and Women haue euer naturally had so much wit as to finde a falsehood in a fayre tale But if fayre woordes bee truly spoken and by authoritie confirmed they cannot but be as fréendlie taken as fully allowed Wherefore my woords in their behalfe shall shew testimony of my true meaning else let me abide the slander of such hipocrisie as is hatefull to an honest minde That I haue a Woman to my Mother I graunt and am heartily glad off for surely he that is not borne of a Woman wants a péece of a Man and he that despiseth his Mother in that shée is a Woman is to be disdained him selfe in that he is no Man are we not commaunded by God to honour Father and Mother Is it not written in the holy Scriptures Thou shalt honour thy Father bâ—… thy Mothers paines shalt thou neuer forget Then remember the commaundement and doo thy Mother due reuerence disdaine her not for feare of Gods displeasure discredit her not for GOD and mans disliking defame her not for feare of thy Soules destruction Now some will say that I haue a Woman to my Mistresse I not denie it for Saintes are none vpon the earth and Diuels I would be loath to doâ—… seruice too A Woman of honour may well be Mistresse to a Man of worship in reason consider and grant me this what Souldiour so valiant what courtiour so fint and what scholler fo profound but will vse his armes his allegaunce and his art to win the fauour of his Mistresse I haue heard some talke theyr pleasure in a heate that the fayrest Lady in the world shuld not make them steupe to their Lure But when without an Hostler they walked themselues a cold oh then ere long recant al it was not I and cry Peccaâ—… for a fauourable looke of an indifferent face Now some wil say that I am sworne to the candlestick such I wish their noses in the socket And this I say further my faith was not yet so much had in question to bee called to the Candlesticke but if he that say so haue beene brought to the like booke oath I wish hee had eaten the stringes for his labour Some will say it is pittie he was not made a Woman I woonder why my beautie is not such to allure a wanton eye nor mine eye â—…o wanton to allure a wicked minde my qualities are not onely fit for a Chamber nor in my chamber alwaies in bed Then what see these fellowes in me if they say so they knowe not why I answer them I care not hâ—…w Nowe some will saye oh hee is a good Womans man beleeue mee I thinke it betteâ—… to bee thought a good Womans man then an ill mans Woman But as no man can be counted a manâ—… Woman but figuratâ—…e so then a good Womans man I thinke a man cannot bee tearmed more fitlie but if any man speake it in scorne I answere him in scoffe if he speake it in despite of Women let them 〈◊〉 him if 〈◊〉 displeasure with me as he is angrie without a cause he shall be pleased without amends Aâ—…d to conclude I am of this minde that as nowe the worlâ—… goes he is verie preâ—…se or little wise that would not rather choose the fauour of one woman then the frienâ—…ship of any man Now hauing made answere to these obiections I wil goe onwards with my opinion touching the worthinesse of Women Let me see what man was euer so good so iust so pittifull so â—…becall so learned so Famous for rare excellencies But there maye be founde a Woman euerie waies his matche fetche authoritie out of Scripture Was not the blessed â—…irgin Maâ—…ie a Woman how good did God thâ—…nke her that hee would vouchsafe to conioyne in her most holy wombe his diuine Grace with her humaine Nature Mée thinkes there is no man of any good minde at all but would thinke well of all Women â—…or her sake and such as are not good to wiâ—…he them gracâ—… to amend rather then so to difgrace them as makes them neuer haue heart to fall to good againe Admitte 〈◊〉 was ill so was Adam too Cruell was the Woman that killed her Childe so was Caine in killing his owne brother Abell But leauing discommendations now to commend for perticuler causes For beléefe who before the Woman of Canaan For repentaunce Marie Mâ—…gdalen And for causes touching saluation what
vanitie For man being of wit sufficient to consider of the Uertues of a Woman is as it were rauished with the delight of those dainties which do after a sort draw the senses of man to serue them Now a Woman hauing not so déepe a capacitie to conceiue or iudge of the conditions of man is onely wedded to his will which thing how vaine it is is seene when it is bent to little vertue Some haue a delight to tearme Women by nicke-names as in the doore shée is an Image But how wise is the man that hath his wittes so cosened to take one thing for another They be Lunaticke or in Loue that worshippe such Idols And this I will say further if shée be an Image shée is liker nothing then a man in she house shée is a number of things in the kitchin shée is a cormorant Iâ—… shee dresse meate is shée not woorthy to eate I haue séene a man eate the meate that a woman hath dressed and men liker Cranes then Women Cormoraunts In the milke house shée is a Catte why if shee milke a Cowe is shée not worthie to taste it for her labour In the Cheese shée is a Mouse why shée sette the Curdes together should shée not taste the meate In the bakehouse she is a Bée for her busie stirring about Yet her sting is but her tongue that hurts no body except shée be troubled then allowe the Bée her Hiue and let her rest In the Buttrie shée is a Sprite but shée dooth no hurt but fray a Mouse from the bread and a theefe from the Cubborde In the Seller shee is a Sowe and yet I haue seene one Dutch man drinke more then fiue English women In the Hall shée is a Hare but béeing tame take heede how you hunt her In the Parler shee is a Pâ—…rat shée learnes but what is taught her and an Almonde will please her In the Chamber shee is a Birde and who sings swéeter then the Nightingale In the bedde shee is a Flea if shee layde on the Blankets shée is more woorthy to lye in the Sheetes But well if it were not for making women to be worse then they would be I would tell them howe they might tear me men in sundrie places both within and without the house But let this suffice I meane but onely to commende Women and not offend men And if I haue vnwittingly offended any I willingly aske pardon of all with promise of amendes if my power serue me For qualities worthy commendation sée who is to bee preferred the Man or the Woman without the house for husbandriâ—… if hée mowe shée can â—…edde if hee â—…edde shée can turne if he cocke shée can rake if hée loade she can laye abroade if hée sowe shee can reape iâ—… hee can shocke shée can binde Sheafes if hee can thresh shee can Fanne if hée grinde shée can boult if hée lay Leauen shée can heate the Ouen If hée knowe howe to buy a Cowe shée can milke her if hée breake a Horse shée can ride to the Market on him if he buye a Sowe shee can serue her if hee bring home the milke shée can sette it together if hee make a Panne shée can fleete the milke if hée make a Chearne she can make Butter if hée make a Presse shée can make Chéese If he dresse the Garden shee can wéede it if hée sowe good Hearbes shee can gather Sallets if hee sette swéete Flowers shee can make a fine Nosegaye if hée gather good Hearbes shée can make good Pottage if hée bee a good Cooke shée is a good Dairie Woman if hee bee a good Baker shee is a good Brewer if hée bée good in the Pantrie shée is as good in the Pastrie if hee bee at his Penne shee is at her Needle if hee bee a good Taylor shee is a good Seâ—…pster and if he bee a good Brusher shée is a good Launder And which is more woorthy loue a cleane Shyrte or a fine Coate Nowe in higher causes if hée be Ualiaunt shee is Uertuous if hée can leape well shee can daunce well if hée can playe well shée can sing well if hee can commende shée can thankfully consider and if hée can take it well shée can thinke it well bestowed if hee can write shee can reade if hee can sweare truely shee can beleeue faythfully if he can deserue shee can giue due if hee can like honourably shée can loue heartily In fine if hee haue any good qualitie shee hath another It were but a follie to fill my Booke with examples of this Woman for constancie and that for fidelitie an other for Huswiferie and the other Woman for worthie wit Let this suffice in braefe there is in sickenesse no greater comfort in health no better companion to a wise man then a wittie woman Nowe for wise women I thinke his should shew him selfe a verie vnwise man that woulde wish for such a one I remember a prettie speech once vttered by a verie wise man when a man as it séemed not verie wise came to him for his counsaile what he might doo to come by a certaine Iewell that was stollen from him out of his Chamber and hauing told his losse before he would heare of his aduise Sir quoth heâ—… were I not best to go to a wise woman Yes marry quoth hée if you knewe where any such were Meaning that they were so hard to hit on that it were but follie to secke them Nowe what pittie it is to sée some men so vnwise to thinke such wisedome in any Woman after he had lost his Iewell if hee would e haue lookt into himselfe and found his owne follie before hee had seught such wisedome in a woman hee should haue seene that it were more wisdome for a man to keepe that he hath warely then vnwisely to runne to a woman to seeke for wit how to finde it againe But I will stand no more vpon this poynt let it suffice that it is wisedome for a man to take heede that a Woman be not wiser then himselfe and howe wise so euer he bee to count them no fooles For in déede as the common Prouerbe is The wit of a Woman is a great matter and true when a man with all his wisedome is sometime to learne wit of her In mine opinion I heard a verie wise speech of a verie wittie Woman touching the wisedome if any that ought to bee in a Woman In a Mayde to take care in choyse of a Husbande in a marryed woman to loue none but her husband in a widow to prouide for her children in an old woman to haue care of her end Now for men if a Batcheler take heed what wife hée takes and hauing taken a wife to loue no other woman a Widdower to looke for his children before a newe wife and an olde man his graue is it amisse no I warrant yee Nowe men must bee wise in caring for Women and themselues to and Women no wyser then in
and euery day Anger For how long Patience during life Anger What wilâ—… thou bind me to a diet Patience That shall do the good refuse not Anger What shall I pay for iâ—… Patience 〈◊〉 Anger Who shall haue it Patience Selfe will Anger Will that please him Patience Hee may nâ—…t refuse it Anger When must I pay it Patience When you take your Phisicke Anger What good will it doo mee Patience Great It will cleare you of Choller it will make you finde a new world teach you how to knowe your friendes and to beware of your foes the way to a quiet life a happie ende and Heauen hereafter Anger Oh good Phisick Patience None such Anger When is it good taking it Patience In the fall or spring or at any other time Anger Howe shall I take it Patience Fasting in the morning and â—…ate what you can gette after Sléepe not before your eyes be together and kéepe you as warme as your cloathes will giue you leaue walke vp and downe about your businesse and suppe not late except you haue not eaten any thing all dâ—…y before Kéepe this order and my life for yours this heate of yours will quite away kéepe it for an excellent péece of Phisicke You may make it with a little cost and no great labour Anger Syr for your good will I thanke you but for your Medicine I gesse it of meane effect yet for that I am troubled with a Melancholie I meane to trie your cunning In the meane time I will fetch a sigh for my sinnes and bidde you fare well I am but yong and â—…m going to age hee hath promised me to learne mée some good Lessons Patience And with him shall you finde me and so till we méete farewell Thus is Youth gone to Age of whose méeting 〈◊〉 shall heare more ere long In the meane time I craue you Patience to beare with that hath passed and if héereafter you heare of any better stuffe thinke of it as it deserues and of mee as you haue cause in minde to giue you as good cause as I can to thinke the best of me Meane time hoping I haue giuen no man cause to say ill by 〈◊〉 I wish all â—…he worlde to thinke the best of euerie man and so of mée among the rest Who wish none ill but all as well as I desire them to wish mée And so fare you well Patientia Penitentia N. B. Gent. FINIS NOw Gentlemen when I had finisht vp my booke and bade you farewell came to my remembraunce an olde peece of Phisicke good for sâ—…ch persons as are sicke like my selfe which for that I guesse it as profitable as it may seeme pleasaunt I am to desire you to reade a little more what followes It was my happe not many months since to be verie sicke when so weake as I could not well walke abroade I tooke my pen and wrote vnto my friends of such matters as stoode me vppon not to let slip Among which my health beeing not the least thing that I tooke care of I wrote vnto a friend of mine whom I counted a good Phisition to minister me some such Phisicke as he thought good for the disease Now the man well acquainted with the cause and minding rather to comfort me with some merrie counsaile then weaken mee with too many Medicines wrote me word to obserue such a diet as I think is verie requisite for all men that shall â—…all into like Feuer to take care to keepe and when they haue found as much ease as I haue done in it then I shall haue as much thankes as he had but least I seeme â—…edious ere I begin thus it was A Phisitions Letter COmmendations considered soâ—…e for your heauinesse yet glad of your good remembrance notwithstanding your great weaknesse This is to let you vnderstand that nowe you are determined to take my counsaile and trouble your selfe with no more Phisicke Upon Thursday fortnight God willing I meane to sée you till when for that I sée no daunger of death in you I haue héere written you worde what order you shall take and when I come we will talke further First considering that the cause growes of conceyte which hath bredde such a hearts gréefe in you as will hardly bée cured without Gods great goodnesse and yet by his grace is not past helpe This you shall doo thinke not of that you haue lost for the losse will gaine you nought but gréefe and cast not to get any thing ill least the gaine bréede as great an after sorrow as the losse and to recouer your health and estate by such good meanes as it way continue this you shall do Obserue this order In the morning when you rise serue God and hee will see to you washe your handes with running water it is good for the heate of the Liuer make your breakfast of a warme broath which you shall make of Hearbes in this sort Take a handfull of Time and put as much Rewe into it stampe with these two a roote or two of Repentanâ—… and straine them into a fayre Dish with the iuyce Parseline let it stande on the fire till it bee luke warme then taste it with your fingers ende and if you like it not throwe it out at the Windowe vpon my worde it will neuer hurt you For your meate you may nowe and then if your stomacke stande to fleshe eate of a little warme Mutton but take héede it be not laced for that is ill for a sicke body For chaunge now and then eate of a Rabbet it is as restoritiue olde Cunnies are to drye and too harde of digestion You may nowe and then eate of a Larke it is good and light meate but Buntings are to bitter A Partridge is not a misse but eate not of a pluâ—… Plouer A Chicke now and then of a moneth olde but Marche Birds are to strong meate A Woodcocke manis sicke folkes may be bold withall but a Goose of all other is a vile Bird a perillous meate for a sicke person And of all meates Foule or other fleshe whatsoeuer take héede of Uenison as Does fleshe and Hares fleshe and such like they are stirring meates and will distemper the body verie much For â—…she of all beware of swallowing a Gudgine whole or a Leaping Whyting a Goddes heate is not verie good and a salte â—…ele is vnholsome if I lye aske the Ship Boye Drinke not too much Wine leasts it inflame the bloud and bring the Purse into a consumption Comforte your selfe with hope of better happe then you haue had considering you cannot well haue woorse Followe harde the good worke you haue in hande and finishe it as well as you haue begunne it will make you amendes for a great deale of mispent time it will purchase you credit payment for your paines good thoughts of your betters thanks of your fréends and content to your selfe Thus loth to trouble you with any more matter at this time I pray
you followe my counsaile and when I come tell mée what ease you finde In the meane time as the Fidler sayes I praye you bee merie as you may I meane though not as you woulde and so God kéepe you send you your health both of vs his grace and all fréendes a merrie meeting In haste from my Chamber in Smithfielde Your better freende then Phisition R. S. Il sano non ha bisognadel medico A farewell WHen I had receiued this Letter frâ—…m this my fréendly Phisition I tooke more comfort in the mnth of this order set downe then care for the obseruance of the same But as newe and then a sick mans spirits shall be somewhat more reuiued vpon a suddaine merie iest then a sullen medicine so was I more pleased with this merie ceunsailâ—… theÌ„ I thinke I should haue béene with this Phisicke but as in health 〈◊〉 better company than a pleasant frende so in sicknesse no better comfort then a merie companion I must néeâ—…es say both doo well for as Phisicke doth minister Medicines to purge such ill humors as doo inâ—… the blood infect the Liuer and so bring the body inâ—… diseases so dooth the pleasaunt spéeche of an honest fréende purge the minde of such melancholicke conceites as bring the braine into such hurlie burlie as that all the body is the woorse for it For make the body neuer so cleane from all causes of infection yet let the minde be diâ—…nbed within a little time you shall see the body brought into such sicknesse as is hardly to bee cured But lette a man bee neuer so sicke if he haue the companie of such a companion as he may finde content with all his sicknesse will by little and little so soone away as all the art in the worlde is not able to doo without it What shall I further saye There is no sicknesse no sore as that growes of sorrowe no better meane to cure it then the company of a contentiue fréende and whereas company cannot bee had merie counsaile must serue the turne I speake by experience in sorrow no man sicker with Phisicke no man wealter desiring myrth no man more enioying no man lesse by Gods good helpe in the middest of this miserie found a fréende vnlookt for that séeing me in such extremâ—…tie of a suddaine â—…ell into a great laughing not for â—…oye to see my sorrowe but for a woonder to sée me in suâ—… a wofull case Now knowing my frâ—…ndes nature scarce able to force a smile I laughed a litle for company Nowe to make me merie the best Medicine for a suddaine mâ—…ting he begins to tell me what hap he had to â—…isit sicke Folkes For that not an houre before he had béene with a verie fréende of mine and his too whom he had left halfe franticke of a fantasticall Feâ—…er Forsâ—…the he was sâ—… farre in Louâ—… as nothing woulde serue his 〈◊〉 but Death No grace with him but shaking the heâ—…de with a terrible sigh or two and not a woorde but 〈◊〉 and oh and now and theÌ„ rise off his bed in a rage knitting his broweâ—… with Cancro and then hee spake Italian and by and by make obeysaunce to the window dâ—…wne on his knéeâ—… lâ—… vp his hands kisse his hand lâ—…t fall a teare or two with madame and with that word â—…eare open his buttons throwâ—… off his hat fling away his Pantofles breake all the strings of his Lute knocke the belly against the bedde poste and runne to his Sworde when then it was time to catchâ—… holdâ—… of him and so with fréendlie perswasions to bring him to better quiet And in the ende oâ—… his tale but thou art not so when God knowes hée foâ—…de me in farre tamer taking Yet to bee short with this pleasaunt Tale hâ—… triâ—…ed out the time til my fit was ouer when wee fell to such fréendly communication as merily passed away that day and after many mo til in the ende with Gods helpe I recouered to whome bee giuen the gloriâ—… of all health whâ—… in deede in health is the onely good freend and in sicknesse the onely Phisition that comforteth and cureth the most sicke that trusteth in his heauenly helpe Thus haue you heard what good a merie fâ—…éend â—…oth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of sicknesse which as you shall haue occasion sende â—…r to your comfort alwaies accouâ—…ting and hâ—…uring God as the cheefest Pâ—…isition To whome for our health and othâ—… his benifites otherwise bestowed vâ—…on vs be giuen all glory and â—…aise world without ende Amen Meâ—…ico del Anima Iddiâ—… Delcorpo buon Compagnâ—… N. B. Gent. FINIS A Table of the Discourses THe first The Will of Wit Fol. 1 The second The Authors Dreame Fol. 10 The third The Scholler and the Souldiour Fol. 21 The fourth The Miseries of Mâ—… Fol. 55 The fift The Praise of Women Fol. The farewell A mene peece of Phisicke What faults are escaped in the Printing finde by discrecion and excuse the Author by other worke that lette him from attendance to the Presse Non hà che non sà N. B. Gent.